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How India Entered His Life
- James Ivory described discovering Indian miniature paintings at a San Francisco dealer and deciding to make a film about them on impulse.
- That decision led him to make documentaries in India and eventually meet Ismail Merchant at a consulate screening.
Meeting Ismail Merchant
- Ivory recounted meeting Ismail Merchant after a screening and immediately spending time with him while Merchant prepared to leave for Cannes.
- Their casual meetings evolved into a creative partnership that began with The Householder.
Financing Films With Blocked Rupees
- Merchant understood how to use India's frozen rupees to finance films and turned that into a production advantage.
- That financial savvy let Merchant Ivory turn modest capital into multiple international productions.